Roberta S. Jacobson: “We could not accept not meeting with democracy activists and with the broadest swath of Cubans possible.”

The summit process is committed to democratic governance and that the governments that are sitting at that table ought to be committed to the summit principles, which include democratic governance.

The greatest progress so far is just the acceptance by both sides that we do want diplomatic relations.

But comprehensive changes in our economic relationship will require congressional action to lift the embargo, and the President has urged Congress to begin that effort.

No government--neither that of the Castros nor those of third countries--can credibly make the case that pushing the Cuban Government to respect universal human rights is taking sides in a dispute between Cuba and the United States.